Southern Wayne senior honored
By Staff Reports
Published in News on May 22, 2016 1:45 AM
Carter Jones
Southern Wayne High senior Carter Jones was recently named a 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
He is one of only 160 outstanding American high school seniors selected nationwide for this honor, and the only one in North Carolina to receive it in the area of Career & Technical Education.
It is worth noting that this is the first year the Presidential Scholars Program recognized the area of CTE, and approximately 20 students nationwide were honored in this area.
"We are very excited about Carter's achievement," said Erlene Brogden, director of Career & Technical Education for the Wayne schools. "Mr. Jones is an outstanding representative of the district's and Southern Wayne High CTE program and very deserving of this honor. We are very proud that one of the first U.S. Presidential Scholars in the area of CTE is from Wayne County, North Carolina."
Jones serves as an FFA officer at three levels: Regional (secretary of 2,625 members); Federation (vice president of 650 members) and Chapter (vice president of 145 members).
In addition to being selected to attend the Institute for Future Agriculture Leaders at North Carolina State University, he was a delegate representing North Carolina at the National FFA Conference last year in Louisville, Ky. While in Kentucky he also participated in the FFA National Day of Service.
Jones is the executive president of the school's Student Government Association. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. He is leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has played baseball since his freshman year.
In addition to being highly involved in the Southern Wayne High FFA program, Mr. Jones is in the top of his class and is an integral member of his family farm. His family manages and operates a production agriculture farm consisting of over 2,000 acres of crops, a four-house grown-out turkey farm and 70 head of cattle.
"Last summer, Carter's father had a serious medical procedure that put him 'out of commission,' during the tobacco barning season," said Andrea Sanderson, Southern Wayne agriculture teacher. "Carter truly 'stepped up to the plate' and he took responsibility for everything done on the family's farm during that time. This was a difficult undertaking for this (then) 17-year-old young man, but like everything he is involved with, he worked hard and helped his family farm have a successful barning season."
In the fall, Jones will enter North Carolina State University. He plans to pursue a degree in agricultural business management.
"This year's class of Presidential Scholars continues a more than 50 year trend of honoring students who've shown excellence in their educational, artistic and civic pursuits," said U.S. Secretary of Education John King. "Thirty years ago, the program was expanded to include students in the arts, which is critical to providing students with a well-rounded education. Now, we've added 20 more slots to honor our highest achieving students in career and technical education, reflecting the Department's belief that a quality education must be a well-rounded education that prepares students for college, careers and any other civic service."
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established by President Lyndon Johnston in 1964 and since that time has honored more than 6,000 outstanding high school seniors. The mission of the program is to recognize and honor superior high school seniors and thereby to encourage high attainment among all students.
Initially, nominees were invited to apply for Presidential Scholars based solely on SAT and ACT scores.
Starting in 1979, outstanding students in the visual and performing arts or creating writing were included in the Presidential Scholars pool.
In 2015, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order to expand the original program by including recognition for Career and Technical Education students. Standards for selection of CTE students include Academic Rigor; Technical Competence; Employability Skills; and Ingenuity/Creativity/Problem Solving.
In recognition of his achievement, Jones will receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion and an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June.